Halloween (in one big post)

This year the flu hit us the week before Halloween.  By the time it passed by each child, it was Friday.  So we were forced to squeeze all of our traditions into just two days.  Not ideal but we made it work.


Friday after school (we tried to get done as early as possible) we went to the thrift stores to find needed costume pieces.  Then we headed to Aamodt's apple farm to pick out our pumpkins.  Though first we had to visit the goats (it's tradition).


Then we had to stop in the barn for a few fall treats which we like to eat in the barn loft (also tradition).


Finally, we found our pumpkins.


That night we carved those pumpkins.


I wasn't really able to capture it in my photos but Nora was SO excited to carve her pumpkin.  That was all she talked about through dinner.




Everybody worked so hard carving.




Finished!


The next morning they spent a good portion of their day running around in their costumes.  Grandma Sam and Grandpa Scott also came out for a visit to see what wild creatures their grandchildren had turned into.


By dinner time spirits were a little low, especially for this one who wasn't quite well yet.


But by the time it was time to trick or treat everyone was all cheery again.  Our friends came over for part of the night to trick or treat with us.  Nora was such a trooper and made it to several houses (the last few years she has just gone to our two neighbors).  The big kids ran around with their friends, rode the tractor (one of our neighbors takes it around as the kids are trick or treating), and came home with a big bag of candy.  After much sorting and trading each one put out a pile for the candy fairy.  Her gifts kept everyone happy most of the day on Sunday.  It ended up being a pretty good Halloween but I've decided the next year we won't get the flu first.

4th of July

Memorial Weekend

More Makin'

We had our first annual "Family Christmas Present Making Day" today.  The day included Christmas music, a big breakfast to get us started, a lot of making, and a few Christmas movies in between.  It is my new favorite day of the year.

December Thoughts

{working on a Christmas gift}


{on a winter hike with our homeschool group}

There is so much to catch up on I would like to skip right to the present.  But then I would be missing some real good stuff.  So here goes... Grace and Jackson had a performance for their Irish music class.  They sang and both played the harp.  Ryan and I had a whole night and a day all to our selves!  We went out to dinner at our favorite place.  Then we got to spontaneously stop over at our friends and drink a glass of wine while sitting around the bonfire.  I can't remember the last time we got to do anything spontaneous.  We need more spontaneous.  I brought the two big kids to see the Grinch at the Children's Theater.  Loved.  We have been working on our Christmas presents.  Last weekend we dedicated a whole day to it, all five of us.  Might be my favorite holiday tradition we do.  Somewhere in there Nora got sick.  And then got better.  We already had one Christmas celebration.  Four more to go.  Mostly I like that.

So yes, we are in the full holiday swing of things.  I like the swing for the most part.  Although I have been trying to take note of a few things we will change up for next year.

~ I want two weekends dedicated to making gifts as a family.  If there is one Christmas memory I most want etched into my children's memories it is this one.  Not to mention it is one of those rare times when, should someone happen to stop by our house, they might be fooled into thinking we've all been drinking too much eggnog, as we are all that happy.

~ Starting the calendar making (an annual gift our kids make) in November.

~ Oh and also next November I will take out the Advent calendar and finish it before Advent.  After five years of using it I can confidently say I won't finish it once we hang it up and I certainly won't work on it after Christmas is over.

~ I want to have a bonfire on the night of the solstice.  Nothing fancy.  Just an hour or two of hanging out at the fire with my family.  Maybe we'll even start this one this year.

~ No gifts for anyone over the age of kid, other then a few handmade things.  We are almost to this point now but not quite there yet.

Last week our washing machine broke and I had the realization that despite being able to put a meal on the table that we can take 100% credit for we are not yet the pioneers we aspire to be.  My attempt at trying to do our laundry in the bathtub was a complete failure.  Anyway, tomorrow after taking the big kids to a Christmas play we are heading to my parents to do some laundry.  I'm thinking it will really bring my mom back to see me show up there with four pillow cases of dirty clothes.

Cutting the Christmas Tree (and Santa)

4th of July

Fishing, family, swimming and sparklers.  I think that about sums it up.  Many more pictures here.